Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-19
The Proper Disposition Of the Signal
Service.

~ too EOltC1 Oh EVENING STAR:
It IS matter Of some importance that the ac-
tion to Be taken BY Congress with respect to its
meteorological service should be with an inteui-
gent regard to the interests which it mainly sub
serves II II TO be regretted that so much weight
should be given in the public mind to the personal
preferences Of one or another OF the classes COM
hot pees q ooOsfsy Tessed IN his s nNv os
men who happen 70 be serving 1t for a considera-
ton; Is rather appertains TO the whole public and
by any hand-to-mourn expediency, but aponr fun
consideration Of the scorE s0ich aho,ttd De done
The signal service as It stands is an ,ncomp,ete
e Wen - . cumhrous and expensive machine;
oee!s mainly In rrognostics; it has touched only
nitely postponed the rational STUDY OF the ele-
menfs OF climate IN their relation the more vital
processes Of vegetable growth. The government
should b correlated BY the transfer OF the weather
bureau 70 the Department OF Agriculture whether
the latter Is elevated to cabinet dignity or not
TINS action would not only give dehnlteness to the
aims Of the weather service, and stop considers
bic amount OF meteorological wool-gathering, but
ment q Agriculture. In an address DELIVERED in
1S71. at Memphis, Tenn, the distinguished Lieu
tenant Aaury advocated the close coordination OF
toeSe bureaus. He said: ''Maly OF the data which
theeo two ofncee seek 70 obtain stand somewhat Ia
the relation OF cause and effect TO each other as
11 instance dry season and bad crops. Your
neadD have the same area and soil this year that
they had last Why Is not their yield the same?
SIMPLY because the seasons were different Do YOU
mean 70 say that amid all the means and appi-
ancee OF the age the relations between the weather
and the crops are past finding out? II could with
JUS such system for the down ia uly ONCE
and tell the navigator how he would find the
winds any season OF the year, in any part OF the
ocean through which he wished TO sail am I
promising too much when tell you that by the
plan proposed the relation between the weather and
theerops Is Ia this age, as capable OF scientific
ooSotopment as even the relations between sea
voyages and the winds twenty-five years ago.
In the STAR Of the 18th instant, under the head
Ing the Future OF the signal service" IL il re-
marked that some people think that the transfer
project Greferrfng TO senator Morgan's bin for the
transfer OF the signal service 10 the department OF
S9ncunurel VIII result In a compromise; that the
Dooy OF the signal corps Will be placed on a
civluan standing, with the commissioned officers
As they are now, and the bureau reIna1ng part
OF Tine var department as the quarrermasters de-
pafLmsnt u constituted" All lovers OF science "a
ven as the entire body Of farmers can only pray
toA1 this prophecy Is untpunded; and that Con-
ffeSe VIII enact senator MOrgan's bill as being
me only Intelligent solution OF the question:
what shan be done with the signal servtce9
There - no fnSCperable obstacle 10 the retention
with fun pay and allowance OF the officers skilled
N Indications wors nor Is there any 1ust ground
Tor believing their Official relations in the new de-
partment would be less pleasant than in the War
Sspo1~1ne REFORM.